Julian Nagelsmann on the brink after Germany World Cup exit, Jürgen Klopp tipped to succeed | OneFootball

L'Équipe reports that Julian Nagelsmann’s future as Germany head coach is hanging by a thread after the 1-1 draw and 4-3 penalty shootout loss to Paraguay in the World Cup round of 32, with Jürgen Klopp emerging as the leading candidate to replace him.

Four days on, the fallout is intensifying. Manuel Neuer has ended his international career for good and others could follow, with Leroy Sané mentioned.

Nagelsmann is under contract until 2028 and the next Euros. He said immediately after the defeat that he does not intend to resign. If he departs, he would seek compensation estimated at several million euros.

He retains some support, notably from Rudi Völler and, more surprisingly, Oliver Kahn, who previously sacked him at Bayern Munich. A DFB meeting in the coming days is set to decide his fate, with his management, tactics and communication widely criticised. The 2026 exit also brought Germany’s first penalty shootout defeat at a major finals, after group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022.

Klopp’s name is returning with increasing regularity. Now Red Bull’s global director of football and under contract, he could be difficult to prise out immediately, though the federation appears keen as a potential departure has been under consideration since last spring.

Publicly, Klopp, 59, has avoided staking a position out of respect for a colleague in post, but he has admitted that leading a national side could interest him in future. Mats Hummels, working for Magenta TV at the tournament, has floated Pep Guardiola, currently unattached after leaving Manchester City, though appointing a foreign coach would be unprecedented for Germany.

Source: L'Équipe